Christmas pudding

Get Ready for Christmas

It's tradition to make Christmas pudding on the last Sunday before Advent (at the end of November). The name 'Stir Up Sunday' comes from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer: 'Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded.' Some of the congregation took the words as a literal reminder to stir up the pudding and bring forth the fruit... Stir-Up Sunday was born. 

pumpkin blondies

The Perfect Autumnal Cake

I combine pumpkin puree with chai latte powder to create a lightly spiced flavour which I swirl into a sugary, buttery batter, studded with white chocolate chips to provide a little, contrasting, crunch. The result is something really quite special. ​

gunpowder cookies

A Treat for Bonfire Night

I like to make these dark, spiced cookies for bonfire night, the smokiness of the treacle and ginger echoing the crackling fires outside. I've based this recipe on a traditional Derbyshire bake: these biscuits were often made for Wakes, originally a religious celebration for the patron saint of the local church, before developing into a week of secular holiday.